Improvement in ladies  accouching garments



H. R. EASTRLENG.

improvement in Ladies Acceuchng Garment.

Ne. 23,24@ Paiemedjamso, 1372.

iiuzaa; 4 @matan HARRIS R. EASTERLING, OF BENNETTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA.

IMPROVEMENT IN LADIES ACCOUCHING GARNIENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,249, dated January 30, 1872.

Specification describing certain Improvements in Ladies7 Accouching Garment, invented by Dr. HARRIS It. EAs'rnnLrNG, or Bennettsville, in the county of Marlborough, and State of' South Carolina.

The principal object ot' the invention is to construct a garment which will facilitate and alleviate the labors of parturition, and be also adapted to cases of stone, recto-vaginal, and vesico-vaginal istulas. The invention consists in a central corset adjustably connected above and below to an upper corset and legsupports 5 and it also consists in certain iinprovements connected with the knee-braces, all as hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claim.

rIhe drawing represents a front View of my invention.

A represents the upper corset, having armholes a a., straps al al, by which it may be adjusted across the shoulders, and buckles c2 at the lower end. B is the lower corset, having eyelets b2, bands b1 b1, and tapes or cords b b. O is the oil-cloth sheet, and D I) the thigh parts, which are provided with buckles d d on their upper extensions, and which connect with bands b1 b1 of the lower corset. D/ D are connecting-straps. E E are the knee-caps, having a support, el c1, between them, which is provided with thumb-screw or spring e2. F F are the leg-parts of the garment between knees E E and feet G Gr. H H are cords extending from knees, and having' end-loops 1L la. J is the back-pad. All the constituent portions of the garment are thus securely or adjustably connected by tapes, straps, and buckles.

The upper corset prevents the female from raising her shoulders out of a common plane, and preserves a steady pressure upon the knees from above and below. These duties are usually discharged by an assistant, are important, and are performed very efficiently by this upper corset. After a labor shall have been terminated the upper corset is easily removed; and other portions attached to the lower corset, which is left upon the female, is easily adjusted, and thus becomes the proper and one of the best bandages. It can be adjusted after a labor, (being already applied,) and much more comfortably to the female than any other bandage. It is susceptible of being readily tightened or slackened by the patient or nurse without any motion of the femalcs hips, and will not slip or roll up, and thus annoy the female, but will be comfortable and safe, supporting the parts weakened during the labor and eii'ectually preserving the original symmetry of the female. The abdomen, shoulder, and sides of abdomen are well supported, while the necessary pressure is given to the back by a properly-constructed pad. Feet, knee, and hands are braced, and the female can actually do for herself that which many assistants are now required to do. She can do this, too, with greater satisfaction and more ease to herself than with her friends pressing' and pulling this way and the other. Her mind is thus rendered calm and quiet, while she trusts her safety and that of her child into the hands of her chosen accoucher and nurse.

The construction is simple and economicalmade of suitable cloth, buckles, and oil-silk sheets.

As these articles are made of different sizes a lady can always select one that properly lits previous to her accouchment, and readily apply it as soon as premonitory pains warn her of approaching child-birth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. rEhe lower corset B, when connected ad- `justably with the upper corset A, knees E E, and the feet Gr Gr, as shown and described, and for the purposes set forth.

2. A rigid brace or support arranged between the knees of an accouching garment, as and for the purposes described.

3. A rigid brace between the knees, when consisting of two parts e c1 sliding upon one another, and thus rendered laterally adj ustable, as described.

4. A rigid support or brace between the knees when made vertically adjustable by strap-connections, as and for the purpose described.

HARRIS R. EASTERLING, M. D.

W'itnesses:

SoLoN C. KEMON, s THos. D. l). DURAND. 

